• COVID-19 Park and Trail Closures
  • Learn about the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge
  • Shop
  •  

SoCal Hiker

  • Find a Hiking Trail
    • All Areas
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Los Angeles
    • Orange County
    • Oregon
    • San Francisco Bay
    • Washington
  • Trail Guides
  • Six-Pack of Peaks
    • Colorado Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Bergen Peak
      • Rocky Mountain
      • Birthday Peak
      • Horseshoe Mountain
      • Grays Peak
    • New England Six-Pack of Peaks
    • NorCal Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Mount Umunhum
      • Mount Saint Helena
      • Mount Tamalpais
      • Mount Diablo
      • Mount Sizer
      • Rose Peak
    • Oregon Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Tumalo Mountain
      • Black Butte
      • Black Crater
      • Maiden Peak
      • Mount Bachelor
      • South Sister
    • SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Mt. Wilson
      • Cucamonga Peak
      • Mt. San Antonio (Mt Baldy)
      • San Bernardino Peak
      • San Jacinto Peak
      • San Gorgonio
  • Backpacking
    • High Sierra Trail
    • John Muir Trail
      • Overview of the John Muir Trail
      • Training
      • Day-by-Day Itinerary
      • Resupply Addresses
      • JMT Discussion Forum
    • Lost Coast Trail
    • North/South Lake Loop
    • Rae Lakes Loop
    • Red Peak Pass Loop
    • Theodore Solomons Trail
    • Trans-Catalina Trail
    • Wonderland Trail
  • Gear
  • Forums
    • Latest Topics
    • Ask a Question
    • Campfire
    • Trails
    • Trail Reports
    • Gear Wisdom
    • Classifieds
  • Login

Four Big Adventures to Add to Your Life List

November 17, 2016 By Jeff H 1 Comment

Four Big Life-List Adventures

Do you want more adventures in the year ahead? Maybe you’ve finished the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, and you’re looking for a new challenge−something that takes you out of your comfort zone and pushes you beyond what you thought you could do?

Big adventures don’t happen by dreaming−they require planning and preparation. Many big adventures require months of advance planning to line up permits, train physically, and acquire the equipment and know-how you’ll need for success. The first step is to choose adventure. Then take the step to move that adventure from a dream to a plan.

Here are four big adventures and the details you’ll need to make them a reality in the year ahead.

Trans-Catalina Trail

The Trans-Catalina Trail is just off the coast of Southern California on Santa Catalina Island. On a clear day, the island beckons you from the mainland. But make no mistakes−the Trans-Catalina Trail is tough, with steep climbs that will make your quads burn and descents that will test your knees as you criss-cross the island from one end to the other.

on the Trans-Catalina Trail

The Trans-Catalina trail is 37.2 miles from Avalon to Starlight Beach on the west end of the island, but you’ll rack up another nine miles to get back to Two Harbors for the ferry back to the mainland. It can be done in four days (or less, if you’re really ambitious) but I recommend taking five days, with overnight stays at Black Jack, Little Harbor, Two Harbors and Parsons Landing.

Because of the mild climate, you can hike this year-round, making it a great choice when snow shuts down access to other trails.

Get all the details in our Trans-Catalina Trail guide.

Lost Coast Trail

Rogue waves carry unsuspecting hikers out to sea. A coastline so rugged that Highway 1 was routed 30 miles inland. Beaches where it’s not uncommon to find bear prints in the sand. This is the Lost Coast Trail. You’ll need to acquaint yourself with the tidal charts as the waves crash right on the foot of the cliffs during high tide.

The Lost Coast Trail is a big adventure

Until recently, you could pick up self-issued permits at the Mattole Beach trailhead on the north end, but as of January 2017, an online permit system and quota has been instituted. The good news is that the trail should be less crowded. The bad news? You’ll have to jump through a few extra hoops to get your permit.

Getting to the Lost Coast Trail is a part of the adventure. It’s quite remote. It took me two days of driving to get there from Los Angeles with a stopover in San Francisco. Even after parking our car at the southern trailhead at Shelter Cove, we still had a nearly 3 hour shuttle ride to our starting point at Mattole Beach.

The weather is unpredictable. The forest (which comes right down to the beach) is considered a rainforest. Yes, it can rain. A lot. But the payoff is a spectacular coastal trail with sights rarely seen in California. The Lost Coast Trail is roughly 24 miles long and can be hiked in about 3-4 days.

Get all the details in our Lost Coast Trail guide.

High Sierra Trail

This 72-mile thru-hike traverses the mighty Sierra Nevada from west-to-east (or the reverse), with two big ascents and topping off on Mt Whitney. You’ll hike over Kaweah Gap and descend into Kern Canyon−territory that the JMT and PCT hikers miss entirely.

Camping under Mt Whitney

Getting from one end of the HST to the other is a challenge. Many people team up and swap cars with a group of friends; one group hiking east-to-west, the other hiking west-to-east. If you can swing it, this is the most economical option. The payoff for the extra legwork? The High Sierra Trail is much less crowded than many of the other big trails in the Sierra Nevada range.

The High Sierra Trail can be thru-hiked in about a week, fitting well into almost anyone’s vacation schedule. It’s the perfect introduction to mountain thru-hiking.

Get all the details in our High Sierra Trail guide.

John Muir Trail

The 211-mile John Muir Trail is a sentimental favorite of mine. I’ve thru-hiked it twice, and I’ll probably do it again. It takes time−most people take about three weeks to hike it−a lot of planning and a bit of luck snagging a permit. But the JMT takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine. Crystal-clear streams. Alpine lakes reflecting magnificent, craggy mountain spires. Views that don’t quit, even when your legs want to.

Big adventure on the John Muir Trail

The Six-Pack of Peaks was an essential part of my training for the John Muir Trail, giving me the distance, the net vertical gain, and a taste of the altitudes we would be backpacking at. It’s an adventure of a lifetime, and one that like me, you’ll probably want to hike again someday.

Get all the details in our John Muir Trail guide.

Wrapping it Up

I hope these four adventures have whet your appetite for some extended time on the trails. If you are new to backpacking and unsure about how to get started, join the discussion forums and get answers to your questions, and share your big adventure goals!

Filed Under: Hiking News, Lifestyle Tagged With: adventure, High Sierra Trail, inspiration, John Muir Trail, Lost Coast Trail, Trans-catalina Trail

Like what you found here at SoCal Hiker? This site is a labor of love. Share your support for the site and help us development of new trail guides and expanded coverage -- make your next outdoor equipment purchase through our advertisers.

You can also subscribe to our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Jeff H

About Jeff H

I'm an avid hiker and backpacker. My wife Joan and I are on the trails every weekend. I started SoCal Hiker to share my passion for outdoor adventure.

Comments

  1. MyLifeOutdoors says

    March 31, 2019 at 1:54 pm

    I have hiked JMT from near Devil’s post Pile (red meadows) to Tuolumne Meadows. Not a Thru-hike but enough for my wife and I fell in love with Lake Altha near Garnet Lake. We had the lake to our selves that night. I long to go back and see more.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About SoCal Hiker

Jeff on Mount Rainier

I created SoCal Hiker while preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail. My goal? Create guides for the best hiking and backpacking trails with enough detail to make it an enjoyable experience for you. And while I started with trails in Southern California, I’ve expanded across the west. We hike each trail to create these guides, sharing practical advice on gear and outdoor skills. Read more…

Connect with SoCal Hiker

  • 22,753 Fans
  • 11,938 Followers
  • Followers
  • 1,718 Followers
  • 5,281 Subscribers
  • 341 Subscribers
SoCalHiker was selected one of USA TODAY's 10 Best Hiking and Outdoor Blogs
Get our day-by-day guide to thru-hiking the John Muir Trail
Get up-to-day wildfire status throughout California

Products

  • All the Paths T-Shirt $26.50 – $28.00
  • The SoCalHiker patch can be sewn or ironed-on. SoCal Hiker Patch $5.00
  • Señor Muir Taco Hut T-Shirt $19.00 – $27.50
  • 2017 Women's Six-Pack of Peaks Racerback Tank $27.00

Sponsors

Sponsor SoCalHiker and see your banner here

Featured Posts

Backpacking the Grand Canyon of Tuolumne Loop in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National P ark, and in particular Yosemite Valley, is home to some of the … [Read More...]

Hiking Belknap Crater in the Mountain Washington Wilderness

Hiking this out-and-back route up Belknap Crater you'll traverse an other-worldly … [Read More...]

Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail

The Oregon Coast is rugged, beautiful and often uncrowded. This bluff-top … [Read More...]

Lastest Comments

  • Amy Courtney on Ridgeline Trail
  • Jay Eleanor on Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail
  • Charles Krim on Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail
  • 11 Best California Bikepacking Routes | Wild Lumens on Inside Crystal Cove State Park
  • Ted Thed on Burbank Peak, Cahuenga Peak, Mt. Lee and the Hollywood Sign
Get your SoCalHiker stickers now

Get your SoCalHiker stickers!

Latest Posts

  • Backpacking the Grand Canyon of Tuolumne Loop in Yosemite National Park March 24, 2023
  • Hiking Belknap Crater in the Mountain Washington Wilderness October 20, 2022
  • Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail August 25, 2022
  • Join Team SoCalHiker at the Climb for Heroes August 23, 2022
  • Hiking the Welch-Dickey Loop in the White Mountain National Forest August 18, 2022

Recent Forum Topics

  • Lost Coast Trail
  • How to deal with accidents while hiking in the winter?
  • Warm Tips for your hiking in winter
  • Some tips for hiking.
  • Keep your body warm in the winter hiking

The Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge Series

Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge SeriesThe Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge Series gives you an opportunity to explore your world while supporting a great cause. There are eleven challenges around the country. Hike or run them at your own schedule.

Flex your adventure muscles!

Learn more here.

 

Search

Tags

3-6 miles 6-8 miles 8-10 miles 11+ miles Arizona Backpacking coastal dog-friendly easy family-friendly High Sierra Trail hiking Hiking The John Muir Trail hipster inspiration JMT John Muir John Muir Trail Kings Canyon National Park LA County moderate Mount Rainier National Park Muir Monday National Park Orange County Oregon out of bounds Pacific Crest Trail peak peakbagging quote scenic Sequoia National Park Sierra Nevada Six-Pack of Peaks State Park strenuous Thru-hiking Utah vista Washington waterfall wilderness Wonderland Trail Yosemite

Copyright © 2023 SoCalHiker.net · Metro Theme on Genesis Framework with WPEngine Hosting · Contact SoCal Hiker · Sitemap · Privacy Policy

 

Loading Comments...